Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire | 3 things to watch

Saturday

The Crew treated last weekend’s game at Cincinnati like a cup final and came away with the good feeling it was craving.

A three-goal frenzy in the first half was the type of start the Crew had been searching for all season. It was only the ninth time the club didn’t allow the first goal this season.

Coming off the emotional high of that match, the Crew (8-15-6, 30 pts.) will try to build on this stretch of 13 points in eight games by putting together another solid performance against a Chicago Fire club (8-12-9, 33 pts.) that sits a spot ahead of the Crew in the standings.

“The last stage of the season there's no mysteries,” Crew coach Caleb Porter said. “They know our strengths, we know their strengths, they know our weaknesses, we know theirs, and it's going to come down to executing.”

Here are three things to watch at Mapfre Stadium between the Crew and the Fire.

1) Who is healthy for the Crew

Even in the Crew’s best offensive performance of the season, the club still had to substitute two players due to injury. Already playing its fourth-string left back in Connor Maloney — and getting a solid contribution from him — the Crew might be forced to play another player out of position at center back.

With Jonathan Mensah suspended for Saturday’s match due to yellow card accumulation and Josh Williams having to be subbed out for a thigh injury against Cincinnati, the Crew might have to play a defensive midfielder at center back if Aboubacar Keita and Williams cannot play.

The 19-year-old Keita was injured Aug. 4 having to play left back for the injured Hector Jimenez and hasn’t played since. Both he and Williams are listed as questionable with thigh injuries.

Alex Crognale is guaranteed to start at one of the center back positions. The Crew could also decide to play with three defenders, but it hasn’t played with that formation all season.

Luis Diaz suffered a thigh injury against Cincinnati as well and is questionable, though he said after that match he was taken out as a precaution.

2) Can the Crew play a more complete game

As good as the first half was last week, the second half was a bit disappointing other than goalkeeper Eloy Room’s four crucial saves.

Cincinnati had plenty of chances to tie the match and the Crew struggled on the ball, unlike the first half. Porter said he has rarely seen a team go into halftime up three goals and come out with the same presence.

“Human nature kicks in, so you always have to fight that,” Porter said. “Especially when you're flying and it seems as if the game is easy like it was first half. That's when you really have to watch your mentality and your focus and continue to keep a grip on the game.”

The Crew was dominant on the ball, winning second balls and affecting Cincinnati with its pressure in the first half of that match. Pedro Santos said the club is capable of playing a full 90 minutes of dominant soccer. It’s still a work in progress as of now.

“We need to come in the first half strong, give everything to score one, two or three goals if possible,” Santos said. “And second half, obviously we don't need to try to score another goal. We need to keep the shape, slow tempo and control the results.”

3) Chicago Fire will be determined

The Crew still believes its alive in the playoff race despite being seven points out with five games left. The Fire, however, is on the fringe of being in the hunt and having no shot.

Sitting four points behind Montreal Impact and Toronto FC for the final playoff spot, expect the Fire to give everything into this match and make a significant push in a road game against a team lower in the table.

There’s no question the Crew is better now than it was when it lost 13 of 15 games over a three-month stretch. The club has scored 15 goals in eight games, compared to scoring 15 goals in the first 16 games of the season.

The Crew is 5-6-4 at home and has just one more game at Mapfre Stadium this season after Saturday. It’s a priority that it gives its home crowd more good feelings as the season comes to an end.

"I think now we are more confident and the team is playing well and score goals, too,” Santos said. “We want to finish the season strong.”

jmyers@dispatch.com

@Jacob_Myers_25

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